Michelle provides care for 400 children with continence problems and trains and supports many community practitioners. She was awarded for her commitment to child-centred care and collaborative working with families. The care, support and advice she provides have empowered parents to take control of how their child’s continence is developed and achieved.

Her excellent care has led to improvements in children’s health and wellbeing and has changed parents’ lives. Michelle proved that what others may consider a waste of time or impossible is in fact possible and life-changing for a child and their family.

Michelle was shown to be passionate and enthusiastic about her work, always trying to make things interesting and enjoyable for the child with the use of games and books that she has developed herself. Through seeking the views of service users and implementing improvements, she has developed the bladder and bowel service into a comprehensive, high quality, evidence based, and cost-effective service.

"I love doing this job and continue to see how much delay in continence development impacts on families’ lives and how parents are in despair when they see a specialist continence advisor. Receiving this award is very gratifying even though I get great job satisfaction. I will be sharing the award with the rest of the team as it’s not just myself who deserves it, it’s the health visitors, school nurses, children’s community nurses and consultants - we all work together as a team. I’m over the moon that I’ve been given this award to acknowledge the support we’ve provided over the years.” Michelle Newton, ERIC Childhood Continence Care Award winner 2016

The award was judged by Dr Chinnaiah Yemula, a Community Paediatrician; Debra Gordon, Head of Education and Medical Affairs at Coloplast; and Sharron Gibson, ERIC’s Helpline Coordinator.

Michelle received a cheque for £500 and an all-expenses paid place at ERIC’s Paediatric Continence Care Conference including an overnight stay at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole.

ERIC’s Childhood Continence Care Award recognises a health professional who has demonstrated excellent continence care for a child or children in the UK either within the NHS, local community, or an education setting. The award is presented every two years.

Notes to editors:

Contact ERIC's CEO Juliette Randall - [email protected] for photos of the award presentation and to arrange an interview with Michelle.

ERIC, The Children’s Bowel & Bladder Charity is the only charity dedicated to the bowel and bladder health of all children and teenagers in the UK. ERIC provides expert support, information and understanding to children and teenagers and enables parents, carers and professionals to help them establish good bowel and bladder health.

Coloplast is an international company that develops, manufactures and markets medical devices and services related to ostomy, urology, continence and wound care.

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